Music

SUMMER START ONLY

Early Admission Deadline: January 1st

Regular Admission Deadline: April 1st

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
• Bachelor's degree inmusic education from an accredited institution. It must also adhere to the general guidelines for undergraduate competencies in music theory, music history, music performance, conducting, ensemble participation and music education preparation as established by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).   
• A teaching certificate or licensure from one of the 50 states in the U.S.
• Three letters of recommendationfrom persons familiar with the applicant's academic background, musicianship and teaching effectiveness. This letter should provide evidence of successful teaching experience, academic ability and professionalism.
• A resume of educational and professional achievements.
• A scholarly writing sampleof no less than 4 and no more than 15 pages using appropriate citations and sources in the area(s) of music theory, music history, music education or educational psychology. 
• A GRE or MAT score
• Although not required, formal music teaching experience in public or private school systems is preferred.
• Applicants may be asked to participate in a phone or on-line interview at the discretion of the music education coordinator.

Additional admission requirements for those applicants seeking New York State Professional Certification:

• New York State Initial Certification.  (Those students seeking New York State Professional Certification with teaching certificates/licenses from states other than New York must apply for and be granted a New York State Initial Teaching Certificate.  Requirements for obtaining a New York State Initial Teaching Certificate can be found by visiting the following link: http://usny.nysed.gov/teachers/)
• A minimum of one 3-credit hour course involving students with special needs.  Transcripts must be provided that document a course which entails instruction regarding the understanding and development of effective teaching strategies for students with special needs.  Students without documentation of a special needs class will be required to remediate this requirement by taking EXE 100-Individuals with Special Needs, offered online.  This course will not fulfill the course requirements of the Mus. M. in Music Education.  Additional coursework, (currently only offered in traditional format) that fulfill this requirement and also fulfill elective credits for the Mus.M in Music Education degree, include: EDU 577 Teaching Individuals with Exceptionalities and EXE 500 Individuals with Special Needs.)

Applications may be found HERE

International Students:

International students must hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution that is accredited by an approved U.S. regional accrediting agency or a degree that is equivalent to a four-year bachelor's degree in the United States. International students must show proof of financial support for the duration of studies on the Confidential Statement of Finances form. About $28,398 a year should be budgeted to cover expenses. By the time they arrive on campus, international students should have arranged for the funds to cover their college career. Payment of all college-related expenses must be made prior to the beginning of each semester. Once an applicant has been officially accepted to a degree program, the Graduate School will mail an acceptance letter and the paperwork necessary to apply for an I-20 form. The applicant must return these forms to the International Student Affairs Office which will send an I-20 form to the student to obtain an F-1 (student) visa from the United States embassy or consulate in their home country. 

All international students must enroll in a group health insurance plan mandated by the State University of New York. International students may live on or off campus. On campus, they may live in the international residence hall, which remains open during United States holidays, or in any other residence hall, provided they move out of the hall during the holidays.

A completed international application packet includes:

• A completed Graduate Admission Application.
• A completed Application Fee Payment Form and a $65 nonrefundable application fee. All international applications requiring student visas must be completed by July 1 for fall; December 1 for spring; and April 1 for summer for all graduate programs (except Canadian applicants). 
The international applicant deadline date should be considered along with the department application deadline (varies by department) when considering enrollment. 
In some cases, applications should be submitted prior to the department application deadline to ensure adequate processing of all appropriate paperwork. 
• Official or certified true copies of transcripts along with a certified English translation of all transcripts from postsecondary schools outside the United States.
• Applicants for whom English is a second language must submit a score of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as documentation of English language proficiency. Only applicants with a minimum TOEFL score of 550 or higher on the paper exam or 79 on the Internet exam are considered for admission. Information on the TOEFL can be found at www.toefl.org. Only applicants with a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 or higher are considered for admission. Information on the IELTS can be found at www.ielts.org.
• A degree evaluation is required for all students who have completed a bachelor's degree outside the United States. Applicants must submit official copies of postsecondary diploma(s)/transcripts to one of the following organizations for a document-by-document evaluation
• Completed applications listing the Buffalo State College Graduate School as the recipient should be returned to the organization with the required fees and credentials. The organization will forward its evaluation report to Buffalo State. This evaluation can take up to four weeks to complete after all documents are received. 

Canadian Applicants: Students holding undergraduate degrees from a Canadian college or university should submit official transcripts to the Graduate School. If transcripts follow a system similar to that of the United States, they will be evaluated locally. If not, Canadian applicants will be required to comply with the above international student credential policy.